"And why is that?" Feng Yun asked, his curiosity piqued.
She gazed at him with an air of superiority, her expression bordering on arrogance. "Because we are the Guild ruled by the illustrious Mercenary King, William Walker," she declared. "He is the third strongest person in this world, and his reputation precedes him. Everyone knows of his unparalleled prowess. When it comes to a warrior's willpower, no one can match him."
She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "He is a visionary who turns the impossible into reality. His unwavering determination and unrelenting passion inspire awe in those who follow him."
Feng Yun raised a hand, cutting her off mid-sentence. "Alright, I understand. He's the strongest, and that's why the entire kingdom, including the nobles and royalty, tread carefully around him. That's why your guild is fearless."
She sighed, her expression softening. "Forgive me for boasting about our Mercenary King. I got carried away." Then, after a brief hesitation, she added, "May I ask you something, if you don't mind?"
Feng Yun's sharp eyes narrowed. "Go ahead."
She tilted her head slightly, curiosity flashing in her gaze. "Young master, as I mentioned earlier, everyone knows of the Mercenary King, from children to the elderly. But you seem… unaware of him and other common knowledge. Why is that?"
A smirk played on Feng Yun's lips. "Because I've been living under a rock."
She frowned slightly, unsure what to make of his response. Their gazes locked for a brief moment, and sensing her confusion, he simply nodded. "Please wait here for a moment. I'll speak with the manager to sign your paperwork. He'll issue your guild membership license."
With a courteous nod, he dismissed her. She turned and walked away, disappearing into the backroom. The moment she was out of earshot, Feng Yun's gaze shifted slightly to his right.
Two women sat at a nearby table, their eyes locked onto him with unhidden interest.
He sighed inwardly. Having a handsome face is more trouble than it's worth. In my past life, I lived in the shadows. Now, everywhere I go, women look at me like I'm prey, and men glare at me as if I'm a fragile doll they want to break. I need to invest in a mask.
Just as he lost himself in thought, a looming figure cast a shadow over him.
A man with a chiseled physique, his muscles bulging beneath his leather armor, approached from the right. His blood-red eyes burned with hostility, and his aura pressed down like an unsheathed blade. Though his features were unremarkable, his presence demanded attention.
Feng Yun didn't react. But inwardly, he scoffed. What's this musclehead's problem? Why is he glaring at me like I stole his woman, burned his house, and spat on his ancestors?
The man sneered. "Hey, pretty boy. Who are you ogling? Not my girls, I hope? You should know I'm a D-rank mercenary, and if I catch you staring at them again, I'll gouge out your eyeballs and play with them like marbles. You hear me, Pretty Boy?"
The surrounding crowd chuckled, and the nickname "Pretty Boy" spread like wildfire. Laughter echoed through the hall, fueling the mercenary's arrogance.
Puffing up his chest, he thought, Thank goodness he's a weakling. I can finally show my girls that I'm the stronger one. Who needs a pretty face when you have brute strength? He chuckled to himself, basking in his imagined superiority.
Feng Yun finally turned to face him, his gaze filled with nothing but amusement and disdain.
"What the hell are you yapping about?" His voice was calm but carried an edge sharper than any blade. "Did your parents drop dead the moment you were born? Because it's obvious they never taught you how to speak—or how to keep your damn face out of someone else's space. Now, who the fuck are you?"
The hall fell silent.
The man's face turned beet red, veins bulging in his forehead. "You got a death wish, boy?" he growled, his aura flaring dangerously.
The room tensed, mercenaries watching with anticipation.
But before anything escalated further, one of the women from earlier stepped forward, placing a hand on the man's arm. "Jeez, Shuan, stop it already! He wasn't ogling us—we were staring at him. Just let it go."
Her words should have ended the confrontation. Instead, they only stoked Shuan's rage. His aura surged, his fury twisting his expression into something ugly. "You're taking his side? First, he insults my parents, and now you're telling me you were openly flirting with him? What if I hadn't been here today? Would you have already thrown yourselves at him?"
Feng Yun remained calm, watching the scene unfold with detached amusement. This idiot is actually making this worse for himself. He should be thanking me for ignoring his women.
Then, just as he was about to unleash his Killing Intent, something above caught his attention. His gaze shifted upwards, his expression unreadable.
Shuan, misinterpreting the gesture as further disrespect, sneered. "Now you're ignoring me? You're dead meat."
With a menacing stride, he advanced, ready to strike.
But before he could land a blow—
A massive surge of aura erupted, crashing over the entire hall like a tidal wave.
The sheer force of it sent everyone tumbling to the ground.
Silence fell.
And Feng Yun smirked.